This movie is about the relatively short life of James Dean. We are given his background, his rise to fame, and eventually his inopportune death at the peak of his career. At the end of the movie, we are told that most of the story is based on fact, but the gaps were educated guesses. Unfortunately this got me wondering which parts were guesses.
But no matter. The story of James Dean is interesting but he is not of my generation. The movie doesn't maintain my attention because I want to know more about Dean's life, but instead it is because I am drawn to its lead James Franco. Franco not only looks like Dean, in the movie he exudes a charisma that could possibly parallel Dean's. The movie and all of its characters revolve around Franco's excellent portrayal of the tortured actor. It is through his acting that those of us who have never seen a James Dean movie are drawn into his life. We are sympathetic with Dean's relationship with his cold and distant father; we are annoyed by Jack Warner's attempts to control this wild child; and most importantly, we feel an ache when we watch the world lose the Rebel Without a Cause.
Up to now, Franco's two biggest claims to fame were this unfortunately little-seen TV movie, and his role as the Green Goblin's bitter son in the recent hit movie Spider-Man, which had him spouting cheesy lines like "I swear to my father's grave Spider-Man is going to pay." However, his next role has him as third lead against Academy Award-winners Robert De Niro and Frances McDormand. Coincidentally, James Franco is now about the same age Dean was when his career skyrocketed. Let's hope this rising star's career isn't as short-lived.
My rating: 10/10
But no matter. The story of James Dean is interesting but he is not of my generation. The movie doesn't maintain my attention because I want to know more about Dean's life, but instead it is because I am drawn to its lead James Franco. Franco not only looks like Dean, in the movie he exudes a charisma that could possibly parallel Dean's. The movie and all of its characters revolve around Franco's excellent portrayal of the tortured actor. It is through his acting that those of us who have never seen a James Dean movie are drawn into his life. We are sympathetic with Dean's relationship with his cold and distant father; we are annoyed by Jack Warner's attempts to control this wild child; and most importantly, we feel an ache when we watch the world lose the Rebel Without a Cause.
Up to now, Franco's two biggest claims to fame were this unfortunately little-seen TV movie, and his role as the Green Goblin's bitter son in the recent hit movie Spider-Man, which had him spouting cheesy lines like "I swear to my father's grave Spider-Man is going to pay." However, his next role has him as third lead against Academy Award-winners Robert De Niro and Frances McDormand. Coincidentally, James Franco is now about the same age Dean was when his career skyrocketed. Let's hope this rising star's career isn't as short-lived.
My rating: 10/10